LEICESTER TIGERS 2020/21 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACT THREAD EPISODE VI: The Return of the Burns

[RagingBull]

For me it might depend whether Wigglesworth will still be here next season. Can anyone confirm?

Personally I would be surprised if he wasn't.
I think Borthwick rates him both on and off the pitch.

[Leicestertinytiger]

Tough one really. White is much better than I think people give him credit for. The recent appearances this season I’ve been very impressed, kicking game has improved massively under what I assume is Wigglesworth mentoring.

Problem is, JVP has surpassed him. Depends on whether Wigglesworth will be more a player coach next season. With a long term view you’d want to keep him I would’ve thought.

[rugbym4dmike]

We also have Harry Simmons who I really rated until his illness struck, although it would appear Borthwick sees him more as a winger.

[fentiger]

We also have Harry Simmons who I really rated until his illness struck, although it would appear Borthwick sees him more as a winger.

Maybe we'll hang on to him if he gives extra versatility?

[Dokie]

Just putting this on as a point for discussion. Who do we think will leave in the summer and who might go? Some because of lack of opportunities, others because of where they are likely to be in the pecking order, which might not fit in with their career aspirations.
I’ve included those we already know about.

Leave. Might
De Bruin, Marfo, Bower
Kerr
Lavanini
Coughlan, Lewis, Smith, Lavin
White
Bonilla, Henry
Taute
Williams, Olowafela,
A-Robinson, Simmons,
Van Wyk, Worth
Some of the 6 back three will go but not sure who or how many.

Thoughts?

[Dokie]

Just putting this on as a point for discussion. Who do we think will leave in the summer and who might go? Some because of lack of opportunities, others because of where they are likely to be in the pecking order, which might not fit in with their career aspirations.
I’ve included those we already know about.

Leave. Might
De Bruin, Marfo, Bower
Kerr
Lavanini
Coughlan, Lewis, Smith, Lavin
White
Bonilla, Henry
Taute
Williams, Olowafela,
A-Robinson, Simmons,
Van Wyk, Worth
Some of the 6 back three will go but not sure who or how many.

Thoughts?

This hasn’t come out as I typed it!
I typed the mights as Smith, Lavin, White, Taute and all of the back 3.

[sk 88]

The backrow in the development squad is looking a bit stacked at the moment, but it is a high attrition position and next season we'll have the A league and Prem Cup almost certainly back. Thom Smith was captaining the club just 8 or so months ago and has only really not featured due to the lack of those games, can't see him leaving.

Lavin & Ashworth could as there is a reason they've not really featured much. As they are outside the cap and (surely) not expensive I'd always favour retaining and loaning out.

I think I'd err towards retaining them and not re-signing Coghlan and probably Lewis. I like Lewis but its not happening and he's been leapfrogged by Martin & Chessum in the back row. We'd then have the 4 South Africans and Wallace as "senior" options and Reffell, Martin, Chessum, T.Smith, Illione as younger options with Lavin, Ashworth, K.Smith + any promotions this season as out on loan.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Just putting this on as a point for discussion. Who do we think will leave in the summer and who might go? Some because of lack of opportunities, others because of where they are likely to be in the pecking order, which might not fit in with their career aspirations.
I’ve included those we already know about.

Leave. Might
De Bruin, Marfo, Bower
Kerr
Lavanini
Coughlan, Lewis, Smith, Lavin
White
Bonilla, Henry
Taute
Williams, Olowafela,
A-Robinson, Simmons,
Van Wyk, Worth
Some of the 6 back three will go but not sure who or how many.

Thoughts?

This is how I called it a few weeks ago...

Who do we reckon is leaving?

I currently have it split roughly like this:

Definitely leaving:
De Bruin
Lavannini

Likely leaving
Bower
Diaz Bonilla
Coghlan
Kerr
Marfo
Williams (loan)
Worth

50/50 leaving
Taute
Olowafela
Aspland-Robinson
Lewis

Maybe leaving
Dimen
Smith T
Wallace
White

Kerr now left, Williams is back playing for Nottingham so he's returned from his loan with us.

[ABClub]

It's always hard to tell with Tigers not releasing contract lengths but I believe the below is the squad in contract for next season. From that squad a starting lock to replace Lavanini and strong loosehead to replace de Bruin (who himself replaced Gigena) would be my target areas for recruitment.

1.Genge, Leatigaga, Whitcombe
2.Montoya, Youngs, Clare, Dolly
3.Cole, Heyes, Francois van Wyk, Hurd
4.Wells, Snyman, Chessum
5.Green, Martin, Henderson
6.Liebenberg, Smith
7.Reffell, Marco van Staden, Wallace
8.Wiese, Brink

9.Youngs, JvP, Wigglesworth
10.Ford, Burns

11.Nadolo, Murimurivalu, Potter
12.Scott, Kelly
13.Moroni, Taute
14.Porter, Kobus van Wyk, Olowofela
15.Steward, Simmons

I hope that Henry stays to round out the fly-half depth but McPhillips did show better form recently too. With the PRC and A-league hopefully running next season we will use more senior backs than this season so keeping either Worth or Aspland-Robinson for depth could work well too. If the coaches have their eye on another Dan Kelly esque signing then even better!

Browning should be ready for senior game time next season at least in the PRC I think. He looks a terrific young player.

Illione is already in the England U20 squad as well so he's developing quickly too.

[RagingBull]

Van Wyk is a loosehead

[OakhamTiger32]

It's always hard to tell with Tigers not releasing contract lengths but I believe the below is the squad in contract for next season. From that squad a starting lock to replace Lavanini and strong loosehead to replace de Bruin (who himself replaced Gigena) would be my target areas for recruitment.

1.Genge, Leatigaga, Whitcombe
2.Montoya, Youngs, Clare, Dolly
3.Cole, Heyes, Francois van Wyk, Hurd
4.Wells, Snyman, Chessum
5.Green, Martin, Henderson
6.Liebenberg, Smith
7.Reffell, Marco van Staden, Wallace
8.Wiese, Brink

9.Youngs, JvP, Wigglesworth
10.Ford, Burns

11.Nadolo, Murimurivalu, Potter
12.Scott, Kelly
13.Moroni, Taute
14.Porter, Kobus van Wyk, Olowofela
15.Steward, Simmons

I hope that Henry stays to round out the fly-half depth but McPhillips did show better form recently too. With the PRC and A-league hopefully running next season we will use more senior backs than this season so keeping either Worth or Aspland-Robinson for depth could work well too. If the coaches have their eye on another Dan Kelly esque signing then even better!

Browning should be ready for senior game time next season at least in the PRC I think. He looks a terrific young player.

Illione is already in the England U20 squad as well so he's developing quickly too.

So how do you like the look of a potential match day 23:

1. Genge
2. Montoya
3. Cole
4. Snyman
5. Martin
6. Liebenberg
7. Van Staden
8. Wiese
9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Nadolo
12. Scott
13. Moroni
14. Potter
15. Steward

16. Clare 17. Van Wyk 18. Heyes 19. Wells 20. Brink 21. JvP 22. Burns 23. Murimurivalu

This is outrageous!

With the likes of Leatigaga, Green, Henderson, Reffell, Wallace, Porter, Van Wyk, Kelly as strength in depth.. oh I can’t wait to be back in the stands

[LE18]

I think Wallace will be surplus to requirements.

[RunTigerRun]

It's always hard to tell with Tigers not releasing contract lengths but I believe the below is the squad in contract for next season. From that squad a starting lock to replace Lavanini and strong loosehead to replace de Bruin (who himself replaced Gigena) would be my target areas for recruitment.

1.Genge, Leatigaga, Whitcombe
2.Montoya, Youngs, Clare, Dolly
3.Cole, Heyes, Francois van Wyk, Hurd
4.Wells, Snyman, Chessum
5.Green, Martin, Henderson
6.Liebenberg, Smith
7.Reffell, Marco van Staden, Wallace
8.Wiese, Brink

9.Youngs, JvP, Wigglesworth
10.Ford, Burns

11.Nadolo, Murimurivalu, Potter
12.Scott, Kelly
13.Moroni, Taute
14.Porter, Kobus van Wyk, Olowofela
15.Steward, Simmons

I hope that Henry stays to round out the fly-half depth but McPhillips did show better form recently too. With the PRC and A-league hopefully running next season we will use more senior backs than this season so keeping either Worth or Aspland-Robinson for depth could work well too. If the coaches have their eye on another Dan Kelly esque signing then even better!

Browning should be ready for senior game time next season at least in the PRC I think. He looks a terrific young player.

Illione is already in the England U20 squad as well so he's developing quickly too.

So how do you like the look of a potential match day 23:

1. Genge
2. Montoya
3. Cole
4. Snyman
5. Martin
6. Liebenberg
7. Van Staden
8. Wiese
9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Nadolo
12. Scott
13. Moroni
14. Potter
15. Steward

16. Clare 17. Van Wyk 18. Heyes 19. Wells 20. Brink 21. JvP 22. Burns 23. Murimurivalu

This is outrageous!

With the likes of Leatigaga, Green, Henderson, Reffell, Wallace, Porter, Van Wyk, Kelly as strength in depth.. oh I can’t wait to be back in the stands

Very much like the look of that 23!! If they continue to gel and improve as we have seen as this season has progressed that could be a team to watch!

Add in Taute, Simmons, Chessum, Dolly, Hurd, Whitcombe, McPhillips, Browning, Henry etc to that and the whole squad looks quite nicely balanced. Get an attack coach in the mould of Franco Smith (not sure if he is still rumoured?!?) and I think we will be set up nicely for a few years.

[TheTigerKing]

I think Wallace will be surplus to requirements.

Possibly. But I hope not. He's a great character and solid reserve

[wellstiger]

Back to Wig - I am of the belief he is set to get into coaching and under the mentorship of SB. Is he to stay at Tigers as a player coach or is he off to get coaching experience.? I thought he was bought in with that in mind?